Miata Mailing List: May 1999, Message #19

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Somehow I lost one of those hubcentric rings when I put new tires on my
aftermarket wheels a while back.  Until I got a replacement the car vibrated
like crazy from 60mph to 80.  If your wheels use those check to see if one
of those tire guys misplaced one of them.  It will balance just fine on the
machine without the ring, but when put on the car will cause problems.

Have you tried swapping the wheels front to back and back to front to see if
it transfers the problem?

Mike Pietrzyk

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Rosa <jros6292@postoffice.uri.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <miata@realbig.com>
Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 5:42 PM
Subject: I've had it with this freakin' car...


>
> OK this is a dark day for me... I've gotten so fustrated with my miata
>that I'm considering getting rid of the thing. I've got this rear end
>vibration that I just can't shake (no pun intended). I know I've mentioned
>this before on the list and everything that everyone has said has been
>helpful but has not solved my problem. So hear it is again, hoping that
>some miata guru out there has been holding out on me:
>
> The problem: The rear end of the car feels like it is vibrating all over
>the place. up and down. left and right. This mostly occurs at 3000prm and
>above, but goes away above 5000 entirely. There is also a steady (but not
>huge) vibration of the floor at speed increases. I'm not sure that they are
>related.
>
> The setup: 94 miata, with stock torsen LSD, 51k miles. Sebring SC
>installed at 34k miles. JR header and CAT, with Flying miata duals. Eibach
>Pro springs, with Koni adjustables installed at the lowest perch where the
>tire does not disappear into the wheel well. Flying miata sway bars and
>strut tower brace. 15" TSW Stealth wheels with 205/50 r15 Toyo Prozes
>Fz-4's 2 bought new at 45k miles, the rears recently replaced.
>
> Attempted fixes:
> 1). All wheels checked, one had a slight bend in it and was replaced. The
>wheel that was new now has an identical bend after a month of use. The rear
>tires were slightly oval, and were replaced. Rotating the tires has no
>effect. The new wheel and tires had no effect.
>
> 2). Exhaust system secured allowing only a slight movement of the system.
>No effect on vibration. Slight increase in floor vibration.
>
> 3). Adjusted the Koni's. I usually drive on the softest setting due to the
>overall crappiness of the roads around here. On the hardest setting, side
>to side vibration is all but eliminated, but up and down vibration is
>increased dramatically.
>
> My mechanic who installed the suspension changes says he can find nothing
>mechanically wrong with the car and he has looked at it on a number of
>occasions. He has much experience with installing such upgrades as well as
>much miata experience, as the garage rents several miatas and he maintains
>them all.
>
> Thats all I can think of right now. So, before I start placing ads, any
>new suggestions? I'd appreciate anything at this point.
>
>Thanks.
>Jeremy Rosa
>94 Black SC whose days are numbered
>